Name: KC Gems – Westport’s Historic Steptoe Neighborhood with Mary Jo Draper
Start: 2025-01-14
End: 2025-01-14

January 2025

KC Gems – Westport’s Historic Steptoe Neighborhood with Mary Jo Draper

Learn about Steptoe, a little known African American enclave, the home of freedmen - slaves that worked to buy their freedom. MaryJo Draper – Author, Kansas City’s Historic Midtown Neighborhoods, editor of the Midtown KC

14 Jan

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

KC Gems Bundle – Winter 2025

Enjoy all 6 Winter 2025 KC Gems classes at a reduced cost!

14 Jan

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Winter Quarter 2025

SPARK’s Winter Quarter 2025 will begin on January 13 and end on February 21. We will not have class on Monday, January 20, in honor of Martin Luther King, JR Day.

15 Jan

8:00 am - 6:00 pm

View Detail

Western Civilization: The Protestant Reformation – Wednesday Hybrid

This semester we will continue our study of the Protestant Reformation. Following Martin Luther’s successful break with the Catholic Church, King Henry VIII of England and John Calvin from France also succeeded in establishing new faiths.

15 Jan

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cancelled for Winter Quarter – Tai Chi for Arthritis (TCA) for Beginners

We will not hold our Tai Chi Beginners class during the Winter Quarter. It will resume for our Spring 2025 Quarter.

15 Jan

10:00 am - 11:00 am

View Detail

Tai Chi for Arthritis (TCA) for Advanced Beginners

Basic Knowledge of Tia Chi Forms required.

15 Jan

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Bleeding Kansas: Where the American Civil War Began

In the 1850s a mighty struggle took place in the newly formed Kansas Territory. The struggle was between men (and women) who wanted Kansas to enter the United States as a free state and those who wanted Kansas to enter as a state in which slavery was legal. Although there was violence between the factions, this was more of a political struggle than a military one.

15 Jan

1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

The Evolution of Civil Rights in America Part XI – The Freedom Rides – Birmingham to Montgomery and Beyond

Come along on the trip as we follow the Freedom Riders and the Freedom Rides during the summer and fall of 1961 on their quest to gain equality and defeat Jim Crow in the South.

16 Jan

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Understanding Movies

SPARK once again has a film series! We will view a carefully selected, full length film in each session. The class will begin with a short lecture about the art of the film, followed by a discussion after the movie.

16 Jan

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Mah Jongg Club – NEW! (Must be a SPARK member)

SPARK Members who already know how to play are welcome to join us for our on-going Mah Jongg games each week. Participate In Person Only in the SPARK Classroom.

17 Jan

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Let’s Eat Out Club-In Person Outings

This lively group has long met for lunch on Thursdays or Fridays at local restaurants. We look forward to getting together for patio dining as the the weather warms up. Your contact information will be sent to our facilitator, Lynn Lieberman, so that you can be added to the list of participants. Cost: no cost to enroll. Members are responsible for the cost of their lunch. To participate in the Eat Out club, you must have a current SPARK membership.

17 Jan

11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Tour – Kansas City Artists Coalition – January 17

The Kansas City Artists Coalition (KCAC) promotes visual arts awareness and supports the professional growth of local artists. The tour will showcase works from approximately 200 regional artists as they accumulate for the 42nd Annual Benefit Auction on February 22nd.

17 Jan

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Need Help? Contact Us

Events

January 2025

KC Gems – Westport’s Historic Steptoe Neighborhood with Mary Jo Draper

KC Gems Bundle – Winter 2025

Winter Quarter 2025

Western Civilization: The Protestant Reformation – Wednesday Hybrid

Cancelled for Winter Quarter – Tai Chi for Arthritis (TCA) for Beginners

Tai Chi for Arthritis (TCA) for Advanced Beginners

Bleeding Kansas: Where the American Civil War Began

The Evolution of Civil Rights in America Part XI – The Freedom Rides – Birmingham to Montgomery and Beyond

Understanding Movies

Mah Jongg Club – NEW! (Must be a SPARK member)

Let’s Eat Out Club-In Person Outings

Tour – Kansas City Artists Coalition – January 17

About SPARK

Useful Links

Contact